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Visiting Instructor for Scientific and Academic Writing, Wesleyan University

Submitted by megweisberg on April 1, 2016 - 15:53

Wesleyan University is seeking a part-time visiting instructor to teach two academic writing courses for the Fall 2016. One will be an undergraduate course called, "The Art of Scientific Writing" and the other, a graduate course covering the basics of scholarly writing at the graduate (MA and PhD) level.

REQUIREMENTS: Advanced degree or significant progress toward advanced degree required. Candidates must be able to demonstrate familiarity with the conventions of science writing and scientific discourse, but graduate training can be in any field. A bachelor’s degree in a scientific field (or a double major) may be sufficient for someone with strong writing and pedagogical skills. Experience teaching college-level expository writing strongly preferred.

DESCRIPTION: To be successful, students must master the art of effectively communicating their ideas and results – most frequently in written form. There is a pressing need to both emphasize the importance of academic writing and provide our students with a unified, practical introduction to the subject. The undergraduate course will provide example-driven approaches to developing science writing skills. Assignments will require students to master the ubiquitous “Abstract,” and further expand on the styles needed for scientific articles, research and grant proposals, theses, and writing about science for a broad, non-science audience. The graduate class will serve students in the Sciences, as well as the Music Department; it will develop skills the students need for dissertation writing and beyond. In all cases, students will be pressed to grasp the importance of the iterative revision process of successful expository writing. Students will complete a final project that connects to independent research work. For example, an ideal project might be a Federally sponsored graduate fellowship proposal [NSF or NIH, or NEA].

APPLICATION: Please submit a CV, cover letter, writing sample of no more than 10 pages, statement of teaching philosophy, and sample teaching documents (syllabus, exercises, commented papers, prompts, etc.) relevant to the subject of science and other academic writing to the Wesleyan employment website [http://careers.wesleyan.edu/postings/5378] as soon as possible. Applicants will be evaluated on a rolling basis, beginning April 15. Questions about the position may be directed to Francis Starr, Director of the College of Integrative Sciences, or Meg Furniss Weisberg, Interim Director of Student Writing.

Wesleyan University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, political belief, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or criminal record. To learn more about Wesleyan's promotion of equity and inclusion throughout the University community, please visit http://www.wesleyan.edu/inclusion/. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Antonio Farias, VP Equity and Inclusion, Title IX and ADA/504 Coordinator: 860-685-4771.